Yamba residents get fried with that

Angry residents have stormed from the Maclean chambers of the Clarence Valley Council after plans for a new McDonalds restaurant were approved.

Councillors voted 5-2 to approve the development in the coastal village of Yamba, after two councillors abstained from the vote due to conflicts of interest.

Tonight's meeting heard about 95 percent of submissions received by the council were opposed to the project.

Tania Williams, from the Yamba Chamber of Commerce says she's shellshocked by the decision.

"I not long got back from a trip around North America and and I remember seeing these towns that all looked the same because of very much the presence of the golden arches and I commented to my partner at the time 'isn't this sad, look at what's happened here', and I got back and this is happening in our own backyard and yeah, it's really upsetting," Ms Williams said.

"I certainly know it won't be the last we'll hear from the community about it, but what form that might take I couldn't say at this stage," she said.

But the deputy mayor of the Clarence says despite strong public opinion, the council was not in a legal position to reject a McDonalds restaurant at Yamba.

Councillor Jim Simmons says the recommendation of staff was that the DA be approved subject to conditions.

He says that is the end of debate on the issue.

"At the end of the day the officers recommendation was there and basically their advice was that the DA met all the requirements and... if we refused it and the DA went to the Land and Environment court we would not be in a really good situation," Cr Simmons said.

The nominated licensee for the new Yamba McDonalds, Scott Campbell says he was always confident that the restaurant would be approved.

He says he's not too concerned by the DA conditions of consent, although opening hours have been reduced from 24 hours to 6am until 11pm.

"I'm disappointed that the hours have been reduced because to make it economically viable that's an important part of it," Mr Campbell said.

"I understand the concerns of the community and we will definitely comply with that," he said.